Santissima Annunziata (30)

The Piazzadella Santissima Annunziata is probably one of the most beautiful in Florence, with its three elegantly-columned sides. In the centre is an impressive equestrian statue of Fernando I by Giambologna complemented by two fountains by Pietro Tacca.

On one side of the square you will find the church of Santissima Annunziata, which has great significance for the city. The temple was built in honour of the Annunciation and its importance lies in the fact that, up until 1750, in the city of Florence the New Year began on March the 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation.

In addition, this church is also noted for having been the protagonist of a miracle. It is said that one day an angel miraculously finished off a painting of the Virgin that one of the monks was working on. This led to the temple soon becoming a place of pilgrimage, to the extent that, in 1450, the Medici financed a new church to house both the famous painting and the large number of people who gathered here on a daily basis. In addition, the Via dei Servi was opened in an effort to connect the church with the Duomo, Florence's two great Marian churches.

So now that you know all this, enter the convent and contemplate the splendid Tempietto, designed by Michelozzo, located on the left of the nave and home to the famous miraculous painting. But perhaps the most beautiful element of the church is the cloister, called Chiostro dei Mortior, “Cloister of the Dead”. Here you will see a series of frescoes produced by the likes Bernardino Poccetti or Andrea del Sarto as well as the family vaults of some of the finest artists of the 16th and 17th centuries.